Pages Past — Jan. 9

On this date …

1970: A Clovis man, arrested for fighting outside the Prince Lounge at 200 N. Prince, found himself in additional trouble when he slugged Police Chief Ken Kingsbury on the way to a patrol car. Tony Romero, 21, of 422 Hull St., was sentenced to 15 days in jail and fined $25 for disorderly conduct, the Clovis News-Journal reported.

1968: The Portair Club had voted to make a scrap book of the club from 1935 to 1968. Twelve members were present for the meeting, hosted by Mrs. Gorman Hand.

1955: A Clovis woman suffered burns on her face and arms when a washing machine exploded while she was washing her husband’s greasy clothes. Fire Chief George Maddox said agitation of the gasoline in the washing machine, combined with damp, cloudy weather, caused the explosion. In damp weather, he explained, gas fumes travel close to the floor and explode when coming in contact with a flame; in this case when they reached the heater in the living room at 521 Weatherford. Mrs. Paul Wiggins was taken to Memorial Hospital for treatment.

Price check ...

1973: Riley’s Switch, at 1518 S. Prince in Clovis, was open for business in a temporary building. The week’s special: Six-packs of Pabst Blue Ribbon beer for $1.25.

Entertainment ...

1973: The Lyceum theater was showing “They Only Kill Their Masters,” starring James Garner and Katharine Ross. The PG presentation was promoted as a “smashing mystery, loaded with comedy and fun.”

Pages Past is compiled by News Journal Editor David Stevens. Contact him at:

[email protected]